Yours for the Taking by Robin Kaye Page B

You’ve been married all of what, two weeks? Is the honeymoon over already? That doesn’t bode well for the marriage.”
    “Gina doesn’t like flying. As a matter-of-fact, she’s never been on a plane.”
    Big Joe sat on a stool at the breakfast bar across from Ben. “Women are like horses. You have to break them early. It’s about time you started. You need to bring her out here, show the little lady her new home, and introduce her around to the family.”
    Right, like that’ll ever happen. Ben couldn’t imagine Gina in Boise. He shook his head. “Gramps, Gina’s a New Yorker. She’s not the Idaho type. She has her own career in Manhattan and she’s not interested in giving all that up to live here.”
    “Then why in the hell did you marry her?”
    “You wanted me married, I got married. Besides, I spend a lot of time in the city. We’ll have plenty of time together and plenty of time apart.”
    “Boy, what you don’t know about marriage could fill Hell’s Canyon. You have to build a marriage the way you build a log cabin; you gotta start with a good strong foundation. It sounds to me like you’re building your marriage on a pile of sand. Come the first windstorm, it’s going to fall apart. You mark my words. I was married to the same woman for almost forty years. We didn’t stay together that long by flying away from each other two weeks after our weddin’ day.”
    Ben took a pull off his beer. “Gina’s a modern, independent woman. Things are different now, Gramps. She has her life and I have mine. It works for us.”
    “Yeah, then who was she talkin’ to when you were on the phone with her? It’s a little late on the East Coast to be keepin’ comp’ny.”
    Ben set his beer down on the counter. “She invited her little sister over for dinner to show her our new house and since Tina’s husband works nights, she stayed over.”
    “In the same bed?”
    “Gina’s a little intimidated by the size of our house—we bought a five-story brownstone in a really nice section of Brooklyn and she’s never lived in such a big place. She told me our bed is bigger than her first apartment. It’s good Tina stayed over. She and Gina are very close. I felt bad leaving her there alone the first night in our new home.”
    Grandpa Joe took a sip of his drink. “She wouldn’t be alone if she was where she should be, here with you.”
    Ben looked up from his sandwich. “Give her a break, Gramps. You’ll meet her eventually, and when you do, I know you’ll love her. She’s a real spitfire.”
    Gramps grumbled. “I don’t know about you, but it’s about time I got these old bones of mine into a nice soft bed.” He drained the last of his whiskey. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
    “Night, Gramps. Sleep well.”
    “The board meeting is at nine. Don’t be late.”
    “Don’t worry, I’ll be there.” Not that he had much of a choice. Ben watched as his grandfather shuffled out of the kitchen. He would swear the old guy was beginning to shrink. He took a sip of his beer and wondered when his life had gotten so out of control. Okay, scratch that, he knew when. His grandfather’s eightieth birthday.
    Ben checked his watch and smiled. He took the last bite of his sandwich, rinsed his dish, and put it in the dishwasher before he chugged the last of the beer and tossed it in the recycling bin. He knew if he left a mess, Kate would box his ears. It was a good time to go over to Humpin’ Hannah’s and see Karma. He shrugged on his shearling-lined denim jacket and grabbed his keys. The metal keychain smacked against his new wedding ring. That was something else he’d have to get used to.
    ***
    Ben pulled the door of Humpin’ Hannah’s open and the sounds and smells of his home away from home hit him. The band played a cover of “Walk this Way.” Karma worked the crowded bar, her wild blonde hair shining under the overhead lights. He pocketed his keys and pulled out his billfold before slapping a